Resume a Claude Code session, or start fresh?
If you want the same conversation back, try native resume first. If you want a fresh thread or another coding tool, carry forward a small, explicit account of the work.
By OnlyBots · Updated October 17, 2026
Reopen the conversation
claude --continueclaude --resume--continue reopens the latest session in the current directory. --resume lets you choose a saved session; /resume is available inside Claude Code. These behaviors are documented in Anthropic’s session workflow.
Before changing files, check that you resumed the right project and task. A saved conversation can describe a repository that has changed since the last run. Ask the agent to inspect the current diff and rerun the relevant check.
Choose based on what you need to retain
| Situation | Start here | Check |
|---|---|---|
| Same task, same tool, conversation still useful | Native resume | Current files still match the discussion |
| Long conversation with a useful active thread | Native compaction | Exact requirements survive the summary |
| Fresh thread after unrelated work | Written handoff or OnlyBots | Relevant findings and corrections arrive |
| Switching to Codex | Portable handoff or shared memory | The destination tool receives context |
A new thread still has access to the repository and configured instructions. It does not automatically receive every decision from the previous conversation. The missing information is often a failed approach, a user correction or a finding that was never committed.
Make a fresh thread useful
At a natural stopping point, save a short checkpoint. Update it when the work changes; avoid copying every turn. This template works with an ordinary Markdown file:
Goal and current status:
Exact requirements and corrected decisions:
Files changed and why:
Commands run and observed results:
Unresolved questions:
Next action and how to verify it:In the next session, ask the agent to read that checkpoint, verify it against the workspace and state the next action. With OnlyBots, the managed hooks save bounded working state and deliver selected context on the next prompt. Follow the installation and verification guide.
Does a fresh thread cost less?
It depends on the method and workload. In our October 2026 regression suite, native resume was cheaper than OnlyBots with the same observed completion score. OnlyBots used less API spend than the tested written handoffs. That supports a fresh-session use case, not a universal reason to abandon resume. Read the cost tables and limitations.
Next: what to check around compaction or move work between Claude Code and Codex.